Sensing garments

ABSTRACT

The invention generally relates to sensing garments.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 14/782,871, filed Oct. 7, 2015, which is a 35U.S.C. § 371 national phase application of PCT/US14/33435, filed Apr. 9,2014, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/810,496, filed Apr. 10, 2013, the contentof each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to sensing garments.

BACKGROUND

Industrial hygiene monitoring also known as exposure monitoring is aprocess of evaluating and documenting employee potential exposures tobiological, chemical and/or physical hazards. Monitoring can bequalitative or quantitative. Qualitative assessments involve observingthe operation and the employee and noting the potential hazards. Basedon those assessments, determinations are made if further evaluation isnecessary. Quantitative assessments involve a sensing device thatsamples the worker's environment. Collected data is sent for laboratoryanalysis to determine if the average airborne concentration of aparticular chemical agent or noise level poses a potential hazard.During that process, an employee wears the sampling equipment so theirexposure during their normal work-shift can be determined.

There are numerous problems associated with wearing of the samplingequipment. For example, attaching a piece of equipment to an article ofclothing can result in the equipment tugging on the article of clothingduring the worker's day. Additionally, attachments to the equipmentincluding wires, hoses, etc., can snag on various items resulting in theequipment becoming tangled, damaged, or separated from the article ofclothing. Those problems result in workers not wanting to wear thesampling equipment, and many workers remove the sampling equipment atsome point during their workday. Removal of the equipment leads toskewed results and requires re-sampling, costing a company time andmoney.

Another problem with simply clipping the sampling equipment to theclothing of the worker is that sampling equipment may shift during theworkday. Because environmental conditions are not homogeneous at a worksite (e.g., conditions around a worker's feet or waist are differentthan conditions around a worker's personal breathing zone (theapproximate 9 inch circumference around a worker's head)), shifting ofthe sampling equipment causes the equipment to register differentresults based on the location from which the device samples theenvironment. Obtaining results from outside a worker's personalizedbreathing zone also skews results and also requires re-sampling.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a wearable garment that is configured tointegrate a sensing device into the garment. The garment is configuredto counter-balance weight of a sample device, thereby evenlydistributing weight about the garment. It may also be configured toreleasably hold a sensing device, to retain components of the sensingdevice to the garment, and to position a distal end of the samplingdevice within a personal breathing zone of a wearer. In this manner, theinvention provides a garment that seamlessly integrates the sensingdevice into the garment, is ergonomically balanced, and ensures thatsamples are consistently measured in the personal breathing zone ofindividuals.

In certain aspects, the invention provides an article of clothing thatincludes a wearable garment. The garment includes at least one portionthat is configured to receive and releasably retain at least one sensingdevice. The garment also includes one or more weights coupled to thegarment, in which the article of clothing is configured such that theweights counter-balance the sensing device. In this manner, the weightof the garment is evenly distributed about the garment so that it wearslike any other article of clothing. Accordingly, a worker does not havea sensation of tugging or pulling for the sensing device as the workercarries on during the workday.

The article of clothing is configured to releasably retain a sensingdevice. In that manner, the article of clothing acts as platform inwhich different sensors can be freely and easily interchanged into andout of the article. Accordingly, individuals can use any specificsensors and couple them into and remove them from the article. Anyreleasable retaining mechanism can be used with the invention. Forexample, pockets, hooks, clips, Velcro, etc. In certain embodiments, thearticle of clothing is configured with a pocket, that may optionallyhave a flap that is configured to releasably hold the sensing device.The retaining feature may be positioned anywhere on the article ofclothing. The weights may be releasable coupled to the garment by anymeans known in the art, for example by clips, hooks, Velcro, oradhesives. In certain embodiments, the weights are integrated betweeninner and outer layers of the garment. The position of the weights isdetermined by the position of the retaining feature. For example, if theretaining feature is positioned on a back of the garment, the weightswill be positioned on a front and optionally sides of the article ofclothing. In alternative embodiments, if the retaining feature ispositioned on a front of the garment, the weights will be positioned ona back and optionally sides of the article of clothing.

In other aspects, the invention provides an article of clothing thatincludes a wearable garment and at least one sensing device. Typically,the sensing device includes a body coupled to a conduit, and the garmentis configured to releasably hold the body of the sensing device, toretain the conduit to the garment, and to position a distal end of theconduit within a personal breathing zone of a wearer. In this manner,garments of the invention hold the sensing device snug to the article ofclothing and prevent components of the sensing device from becomingtangled, damaged, or separated from the article of clothing.Additionally, garments of the invention ensure that samples areconsistently measured in a standardized position within the personalbreathing zone of individuals in the sample population wearing thegarment.

Any retaining mechanism known in the art may be used to retain theconduit to the garment and to position a distal end of the conduitwithin a personal breathing zone of a wearer. In certain embodiments,the garment includes an open channel between inner and outer layers ofthe garment, and the conduit passes through the channel from the portionthat hold the body of the sensing device to a distal opening of thechannel at a top portion of the garment such that a distal end of theconduit is within the personal breathing zone of the wearer. In otherembodiments, the article of clothing includes a plurality of tabsattached to an outer layer of the garment, and the conduit passesthrough the tabs from the portion that holds the body of the sensingdevice such that a distal end of the conduit is within the personalbreathing zone of the wearer. The conduit will depend on the type ofsensing device employed. Exemplary conduits include a tube or anelectrical wire. For example, if the sensing device is a sampling pumpthat holds a collection media, the conduit is a hollow tube that couplesto the pump. If the sensing device is a noise dosimeter, then theconduit is a wire that couples to a microphone at a distal end of thedevice.

The garments of the invention may be any article of clothing, such asvests, jackets, pants, shorts, short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts,sweaters, sweat shirts, wind breakers etc. In certain embodiments, thearticle is a vest. The sensing device may be any device that interactswith the environment. Example devices include a sampling pump, a noisedosimeter, a radiation sensor, a chemical sensor (including filtercassettes, charcoal tubes, and devices which only allow particles of acertain size to be collected), a biological agent sensor (includingfilter cassettes, charcoal tubes, and devices which only allow particlesof a certain size to be collected), and/or a video camera. Articles ofclothing of the invention may include additional features, such asreflective material, lights (such as strobe lights), and other safetyfeatures.

In other embodiments, the invention provides an article of clothing thatincludes a wearable garment and at least one sensing device integratedinto the garment. There are one or more weights coupled to the garmentand the article of clothing is configured such that the weightscounter-balance the sensing device.

In still other embodiments, a multi-sensing article of clothing isprovided. In such embodiments, the article of clothing is configured tointegrate a plurality of sensing devices. Multi-sensing articlesgenerally include a wearable garment including a plurality of portionsthat are each configured to receive and releasably retain at least onesensing device. In such embodiments, weights are not required, althoughcan optionally be used, for counter-balancing. Rather, the plurality ofportions are arranged about the garment such that the sensing devicescounter-balance each other. Optionally, and not required, weights canalso be coupled to the garment to help with counter-balancing.

In other embodiments, the invention provides a wearable garment, and aplurality of sensing devices integrated into the garment, in which theplurality of sensing devices are integrated about the garment such thatthe sensing-devices counter-balance each other. Optionally, and notrequired, weights can also be coupled to the garment to help withcounter-balancing.

Any of the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein canbe combined with each other. For example, in a particular embodiment, asingle wearable garment includes a plurality of portion, each configuredto releasably retain a sensing device or the garment integrates aplurality of sensing devices, or a combination thereof such that somesensing devices are integrated into the garment and some are coupled togarment via the releasable retaining portions. The garment is configuredsuch that the load of the garment is equally distributed about a user byhaving the sensing devices distributed about the garment so that theycounter-balance each other, optionally with the help of weights or onlywith weights. The garment is configured to retain components of thesensing device to the garment, and to position a distal end of thesampling device within a personal breathing zone of a wearer. In thissame embodiment, the garment may be flame retardant, may be configuredas a “break-away” garment as explained below, may include a camera, andmay also include a positioning sensor, such as an radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an embodiments of articles of clothing ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the article shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a back view of the article shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiments showing weights integrated between innerand outer layers of an article of clothing of the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiments showing a noise dosimeter as the sensingdevice. The Figure shows a body of the sensing device held in thearticle.

FIG. 6 depicts another view of the article shown in FIG. 5. The Figuresshows a microphone of the sensing device held by the article in thepersonal breathing zone of a wearer.

FIG. 7 shows different views of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating comfort of placing a sampling train on aworker from the perspective of an industrial hygienist.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating comfort of having a sampling train placedon work from the worker's perspective.

FIG. 10 depicts is a back view of an unfolded vest of another embodimentof articles of clothing of the invention. This embodiment illustrates 6portions of the vest (pockets) arranged about the garment such that thesensing-devices, when inserted into those portions of the vest,counter-balance each other

FIG. 11 depicts a left side view of the article shown in FIG. 10 beingworn by a user.

FIG. 12 depicts another left side view of the article shown in FIG. 10being worn by a user.

FIG. 13 depicts a front side view of the article shown in FIG. 10 beingworn by a user.

FIG. 14 depicts a back side view of the article shown in FIG. 10 beingworn by a user.

FIG. 15 depicts a back side view of the article shown in FIG. 10 inwhich the left and right sides of the vest are folded over the back ofthe vest.

FIG. 16 depicts a front side view of the article shown in FIG. 10 inwhich the left and right sides of the vest are folded over the back ofthe vest.

FIG. 17 depicts another back side view of the article shown in FIG. 10in which the left and right sides of the vest are folded over the backof the vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention generally relates to sensing garments. In certain aspects,the invention provides an article of clothing that includes a wearablegarment. The garment includes at least one portion that is configured toreceive and releasably retain at least one sensing device. The garmentalso includes one or more weights coupled to the garment, in which thearticle of clothing is configured such that the weights counter-balancethe sensing device. In other embodiments, weights do not have to be used(although can be used); rather, the garment is configured with aplurality of portions, each of which is configured to releasably retaina plurality of sensing devices. In such embodiments, the plurality ofportions are arranged about the garment such that the sensing devicescounter-balance each other. In other aspects, the invention provides anarticle of clothing that includes a wearable garment and at least onesensing device. Typically, the sensing device includes a body coupled toa conduit, and the garment is configured to releasably hold the body ofthe sensing device, to retain the conduit to the garment, and toposition a distal end of the conduit at selected location on thegarment. One selected location may be within a personal breathing zoneof a wearer, on the back of a wearer, on the side of a wearer, or on thefront of a wearer. In other aspects, the sensing device(s) areintegrated (e.g., permanently integrated) into the garment. In suchembodiments, the devices are arranged in the garment to counter-balanceeach other, optionally with the help of weights. As mentioned above, anyof the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein can becombined with each other. Additionally, while only exemplified with asingle or six sensing devices, articles of the invention can be equippedwith any number of sensing devices.

The garments of the invention may be any article of clothing, such asvests, jackets, pants, shorts, short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts,sweaters, sweat shirts, wind breakers etc. In certain embodiments, thearticle is a vest. The sensing device may be any device that interactswith the environment. Example devices include a sampling pump, a noisedosimeter, a radiation sensor, a chemical sensor, a biological agentsensor, physiological health sensors, and/or a video camera. Articles ofclothing of the invention may include additional features, such asreflective material, lights (such as strobe lights), and other safetyfeatures.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an article of clothing of theinvention. In this embodiment, the article of clothing is shown as avest and the vest includes reflective material. The reflective materialis optional, and the vest is only an exemplary article of clothing. Thevest shown in FIG. 1 is ergonomically balanced on the user by counterweights on a bottom front portion of the vest, as is disclosed in FIG.4. In this embodiment, the vest includes straps that are capable ofholding a conduit of the sensing device (e.g., tubing and/or wiring)against the vest and out of the way of the user. On of skill in the art,will understand that straps are not a required component of thisembodiment, and that the use of straps for retaining the conduit of thesensing device is only exemplary. Any retaining mechanism known in theart may be used to retain the conduit to the garment and to position adistal end of the conduit at a selected location on the wearer, forexample within a personal breathing zone of a wearer. For example, inanother embodiment, the vest includes integrated airtight channelsand/or cables that are configured to provide a plug-in capabilitybetween the equipment that can be attached and an attachment unit, e.g.,a sensor, an input/output (I/O) device, etc.

The vest, which can range in size from child extra small to adult malefour extra-large, includes a portion that is configured to receive andreleasably retain at least one sensing device. Any retaining mechanismcan be used with the invention. For example, pockets, hooks, clips,Velcro, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the portion isa padded, closeable pocket with a volume of 1 cubic inch to 1 cubic footand straps 1 to 6 inches long and 0.01-6 inches wide. In this exemplaryembodiment, the pocket is shown on the back middle of the vest. Otherplacements, such as either side or the front may be used. Additionally,the retaining feature may be placed higher or lower on the vest.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the placement of the strapsA is arranged near the center of the upper shoulder area of the front ofthe vest. The placement of straps B (see FIG. 1) is provided on thefront side of the vest, above the bottom of the arm hole and belowstraps A. The placement of straps C (see FIG. 2) is provided under thearm hole of the vest on the side portion of the vest. The placement ofstraps D (see FIG. 3) is provided above the pocket near the arm holebelow straps E. The placement of straps E (see FIG. 3) is provided onthe back portion of the vest below the shoulders and above straps D.Such a configuration is only exemplary, and other placements of thestraps may be used with articles of the invention.

In the exemplary embodiment show in FIG. 1, the vest includes weights.The weights may be releasably coupled to the garment by any means knownin the art, for example by clips, pockets, hooks, Velcro, or adhesives.In certain embodiments, the weights are integrated between inner andouter layers of the garment. The position of the weights is determinedby the position of the retaining feature. For example, if the retainingfeature is positioned on a back of the garment, the weights will bepositioned on a front and optionally sides of the article of clothing.In alternative embodiments, if the retaining feature is positioned on afront of the garment, the weights will be positioned on a back andoptionally sides of the article of clothing. The value for each weightwill depend on the number of weights used and the weight of the sensingdevice. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the vest includes a pair ofweights that range from 0.01 to 5 pounds each and that can be placed onthe front bottom portion of the vest. In this manner, articles ofclothing of the invention advantageously provide ergonomic weightdistribution. Since an individual wearing the vest is more likely tokeep the vest on due to its ergonomic nature, environmental sampling,such as sampling of air, becomes more representative of the person'senvironment, e.g., air intake.

The vest shown above in FIGS. 1-4 can be made by attaching ten 2″ straps(A-E), padded closeable pocket with an approximate volume of 30 cubicinches, and two 0.01 to 2 lb weights to a class 2 safety vest. Thefollowing includes steps according to one embodiment for assembly andmaking of the vest. First attach the pocket in the center of the back ofthe vest, so that the bottom of the pocket is between 7-8 inches fromthe bottom of the vest. Next, attach straps D 3-4 inches above and tothe right and left of the top of the pocket. Next, attach straps Eapproximately 5-7 inches above straps D. Next attach straps C so thatthey are 1-3 inches below the center of the arm holes. Next attachstraps A, so that they are in the center of the shoulder area 1-3 inchesbelow the top front portion of the vest. Next, attach straps B 8-10inches below straps A. Lastly; attach the weights on the front insidebottom portion of the vest.

The vest ergonomically balances the weight of the device in the pocketby counter weights in the front of the vest, creating a comfortableexperience for the wearer since the weight of the device is balanced anddoes not tug on the clothing of the user. The vest holds thetubing/wiring close to the vest minimizing the amount of material whichhangs on the user and could potentially snag or be caught in machinery.The vest also ensures that air samples are consistently measured from astandardized position within the personal breathing zone of individualsin the sample population wearing the vest. Since, the vest eliminatesinconsistency caused traditionally by an Industrial Hygienist placingthe media sample from a non-standardized position in the personalbreathing zone, any difference in concentrations derived from theanalysis of the media cannot be attributed to the placement of the mediasample resulting in more accurate assessment of the individual'sexposure measurements. A standardized placement means that the vest isconfigured to placing the sensing device at the same location regardlessof the user, whatever that location within the breathing zone may be.For example, the standardized location may be 5 inches from the nose ofthe user, or 3 inches from the mouth of the user, or 5 inches to eitherside of the head of the user. The specific location does not matter, aslong as the sensing device can be positioned in the same location inrelation to any user.

Additional views of the vest are provided in FIGS. 5-6. Those figuresshow an embodiment in which the sensing device is a noise dosimeter.FIG. 5 shows the body of the device in the pocket of the vest. The wireconduit is held snug to the vest via straps E and D. Any excess wire iscoupled to the vest, for example by attaching it to strap D as shown inFIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows the microphone coupled to the wire conduit andattached to the vest within the personal breathing zone of the wearer.

In other embodiments, the garment may include a plurality of portions,each configured to releasably retain a sensing device. For example,garments of the invention may include two portions, three portions, fourportions, five portions, six portions, seven portions, eight portions,nine portions, ten portions, 15 portions, 20 portions, etc. FIGS. 10-21show different views of a six pocket vest of the invention. As alreadymentioned, six pockets is exemplary, and not limiting, of the number ofpockets that may be used in garments of the invention. Additionally,pockets are exemplified as exemplary releasable retaining portions, andother releasable retaining mechanisms as discussed above can be usedwith garments of the invention. Even further, the vest shown in FIGS.10-17 is only an exemplary garment, and other garment, such as patents,coats, shirts, etc., are included as embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a six pocket vest in which the pockets aredistributed about the vest such that when sensing devices are placedwithin the pockets of the vest, the sensing devices counter-balance eachother. Two pockets (1, 2) are shown on the back (FIG. 10). Two pockets(3, 4) are shown on the left side (FIG. 14) and two pockets (5, 6) areshown on the right side (FIG. 14). When worn by a user, pockets 4 and 5counter-balance each other (FIGS. 10-17) and pockets 3 and 6 wrap-aroundto the front of the vest to counter-balance pockets 1 and 2 (FIGS.10-17). The embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-17 does not require weights fordistributing the load of the vest evenly about a user. However, weightsmay optionally be introduced into any of the pockets, which may behelpful when sensing devices are of significantly different weights.Alternatively, not all of the pockets need to include sensing devices.In such embodiments, weights are put into the empty pockets tocounter-balance the pockets that do include sensing devices.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-17, the vest includes straps thatare capable of holding a conduit of the sensing device (e.g., tubingand/or wiring) against the vest and out of the way of the user (Seereference number 7, which is the designator used for all straps shown inFIGS. 10-17, which are the rectangular dotted members shown in each ofFIGS. 10-17. Only a single strap is labeled for clarity in FIGS. 10-17,but all of the rectangular dotted members in FIGS. 10-17 are straps.).On of skill in the art, will understand that straps are not a requiredcomponent of this embodiment, and that the use of straps for retainingthe conduit of the sensing device is only exemplary. Any retainingmechanism known in the art may be used to retain the conduit to thegarment and to position a distal end of the conduit at a selectedlocation on the wearer, for example within a personal breathing zone ofa wearer. For example, in another embodiment, the vest includesintegrated airtight channels and/or cables that are configured toprovide a plug-in capability between the equipment that can be attachedand an attachment unit, e.g., a sensor, an input/output (I/O) device,etc.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-17, the placement of thestraps 7 for each of pockets 1-6 is arranged so that a conduit from canrun from a sensing device to a separate location along the vest, forexample the personal breathing zone of a user. The exemplary embodimentsin FIGS. 10-17, the straps 7 associated with each of the pockets 1-6 arearranged so that conduit from each sensing device is positioned withinpersonal breathing zone of a user. Such a configuration is onlyexemplary, and other placements of the straps may be used with articlesof the invention.

The vest shown above in FIGS. 10-17 can be made by attaching 2″ straps(7) and padded closeable pockets (1-6) with an approximate volume of 30cubic inches to a class 2 safety vest. The following includes stepsaccording to one embodiment for assembly and making of the vest. Firstattach the pockets (1-6) such that, when sensing devices are placed inthe pockets, the load of the vest is evenly distributed about a user.Two pockets (1-2) are placed on the back of the vest. Two pockets (3-4)are placed on the left and two pockets (5-6) are placed on the rightside of the vest. Next, attach straps 7 above each of the pockets 1-6.The straps are spaced about 3-7 inches apart, and continue up to theleft and right shoulders of the vest.

Additionally, as depicted in FIGS. 1-4 and 10-17, the vest isconstructed from a fabric with a bright color. The bright color providesimproved visibility over the vests of prior art. The vest material caninclude polyester, cotton, plastic, flame resistant material(self-extinguishing/flame/heat resistant), reflective material, and highcolor contrast to background material. Flame resistant material ispreferred for certain professions, such as welding, foundry work,electrical work, etc. Exemplary flame resistant materials used inclothing include polybenzimidazole (PBI), TWARON (flame-resistantpara-aramid material, commercially available from Teijin Aramid), NOMEX(flame-resistant meta-aramid material, commercially available fromDuPont), ARSELON (flame-resistant poly-oxa-diazole polymer material,commercially available from Khimvolokno), coated nylon, carbon foam, M5fiber (polyhydroquinone-diimidazopyridine), KEVLAR (flame-resistantpara-aramid synthetic material, commercially available from DuPont),PYROVATEX (flame-retardant finish for textiles of cellulose fibers andfabric blends based on a dialkylphosphonocarboxylic acid amide,commercially available from Ciba) impregnated material, TECHNORA(flame-resistant aramid material, commercially available from TeijinAramid), and modacrylic fiber based materials (modified acrylic fibersmade from acrylonitriles).

Various applications of the vest include sampling air for air qualitymonitoring, dosimetry in which an input device can measure noise andsound levels (decibel), radiation measuring in which a radiation sensorcan be used to measure radiation, chemical and biological agentmeasurements in which a sensitized/functionalized sensor can measurepresence of chemical/biological agents. In each of these cases, thepresence of material/signal being measured can be measured andintegrated over a period of time or a signal can be generated in which athreshold is met.

As discussed above, in each of the above-identified applications,interface between the sensor-I/O device and the equipment attached tothe vest can be integrated into the vest. For example, the vest may beconfigured to include integrated air-tight channels that can be used toconnect to a sensor at a point of connection to the sensor and connectto the attached equipment at a point of connection to the equipment.Alternatively, the vest may be configured to include integrated cableassemblies that can be used to connect to a sensor-I/O device at a pointof connection to the sensor-I/O device and connect to the attachedequipment at a point of connection to the equipment.

In certain embodiments, articles of the invention include a one or morelights positioned about the article. The lights may be used to helpperform work tasks in dim lighting conditions or may be used to signalthe location of the user to other workers.

In certain embodiment, the article is designed to easily pull apart,i.e., break away. Such a design is beneficial in the event that thearticle snags on something dangerous or hazardous while being worn by auser. For example, at industrial sites, there is typically a significantamount of machinery that users interact with, and an article of theinvention could become caught in the machinery. Articles of theinvention can be designed so that any portion of the article is designedto pull apart, and articles of the invention can be designed to pullapart at more than one location. Typically, pants can pull apart at twoseams on the inside or outside of the legs. Shirts, jackets and anythingelse with sleeves can pull apart at two seams like pants, or one seamdown the middle. Typically, one or two key seams are chosen to be madewith affixing members (e.g., snaps or VELCO (hook and loop fasteners,commercially available from Velcro company)) instead of stitching. Themembers can be affixed (e.g., by stitching or hot gluing) at the openedges (breakaway-away areas) of the fabric. Generally, the affixingmembers, are positioned back from the very edge so that the garment willstill hang naturally. The affixing members can be placed continuouslyalong the seams or can be spaced apart (e.g., about 2 inches about ormore). In embodiments in which the article is a vest, the break-awayseams can be one or more shoulder portions, and/or the left and/or rightside portions, and/or a seam positioned down the front and/or back ofthe vest, preferable down the middle of the front and/or back of thevest.

In other embodiments, just the portion of the a wearable garment that isconfigured to receive and releasably retain the sensing device isdesigned to break-away from the garment. In other embodiments, theportion of the a wearable garment that is configured to receive andreleasably retain the sensing device is designed to break-away from thegarment in addition to the wearable garment having one or morepull-apart seams.

In certain embodiments, the wearable garment is designed to adjustablyfit to a user. For example, the garment can include cinches, straps,etc. so that a user is able to custom fit the garment to their bodyprofile. In that manner, the article is prevented from loosely hangingfrom the user, which is important so that the article does not becomecaught in dangers or hazards around an industrial site, such asmachinery. There can be more than one adjustable aspect to articles ofthe invention. For example, one or more adjustable mechanisms, such ascinches, can be set vertically into the article to adjust the length ofthe article. Alternatively or additionally, an one or more adjustablemechanisms, such as cinches, can be set horizontally (preferably aroundwaist height) into the article to allow for tightening or loosening ofthe article around a wearer. As mentioned, the horizontal adjustmentmechanism is preferably located to be in proximity to a user's hips,e.g., along a bottom portion of a vest or along a top portion of pants.In certain embodiments in which the article is pants, it may also bebeneficial to have more than one horizontal adjustment mechanism, suchas at the waist and at the bottom of each pant leg.

The adjustment mechanisms can be along inner portions of the article orcan be along outer portions of the articles, for example, being affixedto the articles by hoops. In preferred embodiments, the adjustmentmechanisms are within the article, and each article is configured sothat excess straps or cinches can be inserted into the article afteradjustment so that excess straps or cinches do not dangle outside thearticle. Alternatively, hoops outside the article can be used to containexcess straps against the article. In certain embodiments, the strapsinclude VELCO (hook and loop fasteners, commercially available fromVelcro company), so that excess straps may be attached to the adjustmentmechanism after adjustment.

In certain embodiments, articles of the invention include a videocamera. The video camera may be the sensing device, as already discussedabove, or can be in addition to the sensing device. The video camerarecords and optionally transmits (optionally in real-time) imagesreceived to the camera. In certain embodiments, the camera is positionedto capture images of what the user is doing from their personal point ofview. Such capability allows professionals to match exposure withindividual tasks or locations. Any technique known in the art can beused to affix the video camera to the article, such as fasteners, glues,stitching, etc. The video camera can be set to continuous record images.Alternatively, the video camera can be set in a motion activation mode,such that it only begins recording images based on a motion signalreceived to the camera via a motion sensor operably associated with thecamera. Motion sensitive recording conserves battery life as opposed tocontinuous recording. The camera can include a storage device, such as amicro SD card, that receives and stores recorded images for futureviewing. Alternatively, the camera can include wireless hardware thatallows the camera to transmit received images, optionally in real-time,to another location for optional real-time viewing. Exemplary camerasand mounts are sold by GoPro, Inc.

In certain embodiments, articles of the invention include a real-timetracking system, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, anindoor positioning system, or an outdoor global positioning system, etc.Equipping articles of the invention with a real-time tracking systemallows a position of the article to be tracked in real-time. In certainembodiments, the real-time tracking system uses a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag. RFID is the wireless non-contact use ofradio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for thepurposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached toobjects. The tags contain electronically stored information. Some tagsare powered by and read at short ranges (a few meters) via magneticfields (electromagnetic induction). Others use a local power source suchas a battery, or else have no battery but collect energy from theinterrogating EM field, and then act as a passive transponder to emitmicrowaves or UHF radio waves (i.e., electromagnetic radiation at highfrequencies). Battery powered tags may operate at hundreds of meters.Unlike a bar code, the tag does not necessarily need to be within lineof sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object.

A radio-frequency identification system uses tags, or labels attached tothe objects to be identified. Two-way radio transmitter-receivers calledinterrogators or readers send a signal to the tag and read its response.

RFID tags can be either passive, active or battery-assisted passive. Anactive tag has an on-board battery and periodically transmits its IDsignal. A battery-assisted passive (BAP) has a small battery on boardand is activated when in the presence of an RFID reader. A passive tagis cheaper and smaller because it has no battery. Tags may either beread-only, having a factory-assigned serial number that is used as a keyinto a database, or may be read/write, where object-specific data can bewritten into the tag by the system user. Field programmable tags may bewrite-once, read-multiple; “blank” tags may be written with anelectronic product code by the user.

Typically, RFID tags contain at least two parts: an integrated circuitfor storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating aradio-frequency (RF) signal, collecting DC power from the incidentreader signal, and other specialized functions; and an antenna forreceiving and transmitting the signal. The tag information is stored ina non-volatile memory. The RFID tag includes either a chip-wired logicor a programmed or programmable data processor for processing thetransmission and sensor data, respectively.

An RFID reader transmits an encoded radio signal to interrogate the tag.The RFID tag receives the message and then responds with itsidentification and other information. This may be only a unique tagserial number, or may be product-related information such as a stocknumber, lot or batch number, production date, or other specificinformation.

RFID systems can be classified by the type of tag and reader. A PassiveReader Active Tag (PRAT) system has a passive reader which only receivesradio signals from active tags (battery operated, transmit only). Thereception range of a PRAT system reader can be adjusted from 1-2,000feet, allowing flexibility in supervision. An Active Reader Passive Tag(ARPT) system has an active reader, which transmits interrogator signalsand also receives authentication replies from passive tags. An ActiveReader Active Tag (ARAT) system uses active tags awoken with aninterrogator signal from the active reader. A variation of this systemcould also use a Battery-Assisted Passive (BAP) tag which acts like apassive tag but has a small battery to power the tag's return reportingsignal. In certain embodiments, fixed readers are set up to create aspecific interrogation zone that can be tightly controlled. That allowsa highly defined reading area for when tags go in and out of theinterrogation zone. Mobile readers may be hand-held or mounted onarticles of the invention.

Signaling between the reader and the tag is done in several differentways, depending on the frequency band used by the tag. Tags operating onLF and HF bands are, in terms of radio wavelength, very close to thereader antenna because they are only a small percentage of a wavelengthaway. In this near field region, the tag is closely coupled electricallywith the transmitter in the reader. The tag can modulate the fieldproduced by the reader by changing the electrical loading the tagrepresents. By switching between lower and higher relative loads, thetag produces a change that the reader can detect. At UHF and higherfrequencies, the tag is more than one radio wavelength away from thereader, requiring a different approach. The tag can backscatter asignal. Active tags may contain functionally separated transmitters andreceivers, and the tag need not respond on a frequency related to thereader's interrogation signal.

An Electronic Product Code (EPC) is one common type of data stored in atag. When written into the tag by an RFID printer, the tag contains a96-bit string of data. The first eight bits are a header whichidentifies the version of the protocol. The next 28 bits identify theorganization that manages the data for this tag; the organization numberis assigned by the EPCGlobal consortium. The next 24 bits are an objectclass, identifying the kind of product; the last 36 bits are a uniqueserial number for a particular tag. These last two fields are set by theorganization that issued the tag. Rather like a URL, the totalelectronic product code number can be used as a key into a globaldatabase to uniquely identify a particular product.

Often more than one tag will respond to a tag reader. Collisiondetection is important to allow reading of data. Two different types ofprotocols are used to “singulate” a particular tag, allowing its data tobe read in the midst of many similar tags. In a slotted Aloha system,the reader broadcasts an initialization command and a parameter that thetags individually use to pseudo-randomly delay their responses. Whenusing an “adaptive binary tree” protocol, the reader sends aninitialization symbol and then transmits one bit of ID data at a time;only tags with matching bits respond, and eventually only one tagmatches the complete ID string.

In certain embodiments, the real-time tracking system uses an indoorpositioning system (IPS). IPS) or micromapping is a network of devicesused to wirelessly locate objects or people inside a building. Insteadof using satellites, an IPS relies on nearby anchors (nodes with a knownposition), which either actively locate tags or provide environmentalcontext for devices to sense.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patentapplications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, webcontents, have been made throughout this disclosure. All such documentsare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for allpurposes.

EQUIVALENTS

Various modifications of the invention and many further embodimentsthereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of thisdocument, including references to the scientific and patent literaturecited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information,exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of thisinvention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Field Test 1

Traditionally, industrial hygienist have had to place sampling trains onworkers, which results in taking the worker away from his/her job forseveral minutes, and potentially uneasy feelings due the close personalcontact needed to place the equipment on the individual. The objectiveof this study was to develop a sampling vest which ergonomicallybalances weight of the pump or dosimeter in one easy-on/easy-offself-contained vest/sampling train unit.

Three industrial hygienists and seven employees from three companieswere asked to compare the donning of a lighter SKC AirLite (12 oz)sampling pump/sampling train to using the traditional method to using asampling vest which contained a heavier SKC AirChek 52 (20 oz) pump.Additionally, twenty-six industrial hygiene students from PurdueUniversity compared the vest to the traditional method in a simulatedrole playing scenario acting as both the industrial hygienist and theemployee. All participants filled out a questionnaire about theirexperience.

The vest was significantly (p-value <0.0001) preferred by bothindustrial hygienists and employees compared to the traditional IHmethod even though the vest contained a heavier pump. The participantsalso indicated that the sampling vest was easier to use and took lesstime to distribute to employees than the traditional IH method. Inaddition participants indicated increased comfort in approaching/beingapproached to wear a sampling train.

The new sampling vest was more efficient, easier to use, and took lesstime to distribute. It eliminated the need for invading personal spaceto place the sampling train on the worker. In addition the use of thesampling vest made it easier to manage the sampling procedure if aworker needed to take a break.

Example 2: Field Test 2

Industrial Hygiene (IH) active sampling techniques with regard toplacing a sampling train on the worker has not changed. Traditionally,an IH would explain to a worker why he/she was sampling and ask if itwas alright to place the sampling equipment on him/her. The samplingpump would be placed on the belt of the worker with tubing leading tothe sampling media which has been placed in the personal breathing zonelocated on the worker's shoulder area or lapel. There are a couple ofproblems which arise from this traditional IH method. Firstly, there isan inherent issue of awkwardness and potential sexual harassment whichexists in placing the sampling train on the worker. In today's societypeople do not like being touched or touching other people. Secondly, thelocation and weight of the sampling equipment pulls on the worker'spants making for an uncomfortable experience which he or she willunlikely be willing to want to participate in again. Lastly, there is aninherent issue of looking incomplete or unprofessional with having toclip or duct tape the tubing on the worker's shirt. Duct taping looksunprofessional and the tape can peel off the shirt due to sweat, leadingto tubing coming loose from the shirt and snagging on equipment whichcan lead to an accident.

The invention addresses those concerns by providing a sampling vest thatis able to ergonomically hold the weight of the sampling train, makingfor a comfortable experience for the worker. The data show that a workerwas more comfortable wearing a sampling vest that holds the samplingtrain, than the traditional sampling method of having the sampling trainplaced on him or her. The data further show that an industrial hygienistwas more comfortable approaching a worker to wear the vest than thetraditional IH method. The data further show that from the industrialhygienist perspective it was more comfortable to approach a worker andask them to wear a sampling vest than to ask to place the sampling trainon them directly. The data further show that using the sampling vestwith the sampling equipment already on the vest took less time and beeasier to distribute to the workers than the traditional IH method.

Twenty-seven industrial hygiene students at Purdue University who werelearning how to approach a worker as an Industrial Hygienist and placeparticulate sampling trains on them using the traditional IH methodvoluntarily compared the traditional IH methods with that of using asampling vest. The students were asked to experience being a “worker”and have another industrial hygiene student place a sampling train onthem using the traditional IH method, and then experience being theIndustrial hygienist and place the sampling train on another student.

The pumps which were used in the Traditional IH method were the SKCAirLite pumps. The students were then asked to perform the same tasks,but using the prototype sampling vest. The sampling vest had a paddedback pocket which housed an SKC AirChek 52 pump. The sampling vest alsohad Velcro straps which held the tubing close to the vest eliminatingthe use for clips and duct tape. Additionally the vest technology hadintegrated front weights to counter-balance the weight of the pump,making for a more comfortable experience for the wearer. The vest isshown in FIG. 7.

After the students had tested both methods (traditional IH and samplingvest), they were asked to fill out a questionnaire about theirexperience as both an Industrial Hygienist and “Worker” with regards tocomfort and ease of use. The results were analyzed using a pairedt-test, results of which are shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means IH Sampling Method Vest Mean3.43 4.68 Variance 1.22 0.30 Observations 28 28 t Stat −6.35 P(T <= t)one-tail <0.0001 t Critical one-tail 70 P(T <= t) two-tail <0.0001 tCritical two-tail 2.05

Additional results are also shown in FIGS. 8-9. Those results show thatusing the new sampling vest was significantly (P-Value=<0.0001) morecomfortable from the worker's perspective than the traditional IH methodof place the sampling train directly on them. The results show that fromthe Industrial Hygienist perspective it was significantly(P-Value=<0.0001) more comfortable to have a worker wear the samplingvest than to place the sampling train on the worker. 100% respondentsindicated that it was easier to the sampling vest than to place thesampling train on the worker. 100% of respondents indicated that ittakes less time to distribute to a worker than traditional IH method.100% of respondents would use the vest in the future and recommend themto other Industrial Hygiene professionals. Additionally 100% ofrespondents said that compared to the traditional IH method the samplingvest was easier to use, took less time to distribute to workers, wouldprefer to use them in the future, and would recommend them to other IHprofessionals.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of clothing, the article comprising: awearable garment comprising at least one portion that is configured toreceive and releasably retain at least one sensing device; and one ormore weights coupled to the garment, wherein the article of clothing isconfigured such that the one or more weights counter-balance the atleast one sensing device.
 2. The article according to claim 1, whereinthe garment is a vest.
 3. The article according to claim 2, wherein theportion is a pocket.
 4. The article according to claim 2, wherein thepocket comprises a flap.
 5. The article according to claim 3, whereinthe pocket is on a back of the vest.
 6. The article according to claim5, wherein the one or more weights are distributed about a front of thevest.
 7. The article according to claim 6, wherein the one or moreweights are integrated between inner and outer layers of the vest. 8.The article according to claim 1, further comprising the at least onesensing device.
 9. The article according to claim 8, wherein the atleast one sensing device is selected from the group consisting of: asampling pump, a noise dosimeter, a radiation sensor, a chemical sensor,a biological agent sensor, physiological health sensors, a video camera,and a combination thereof.
 10. An article of clothing, the articlecomprising: a wearable garment; at least one sensing device integratedinto the garment; and one or more weights coupled to the garment,wherein the article of clothing is configured such that the one or moreweights counter-balance the at least one sensing device.
 11. An articleof clothing, the article comprising: a wearable garment comprising aplurality of portions that are each configured to receive and releasablyretain a plurality of sensing devices, wherein the plurality of portionsare arranged about the garment such that the plurality ofsensing-devices counter-balance each other.
 12. An article of clothing,the article comprising: a wearable garment; and a plurality of sensingdevices integrated into the garment, wherein the plurality of sensingdevices are integrated about the garment such that the plurality ofsensing-devices counter-balance each other.